Officers disciplined over delay

Three Sussex Police officers have been disciplined after they delayed taking a man to hospital who later died.

The officers admitted failing to transport 47-year-old Ronald Nicholls promptly when they appeared at a misconduct hearing.

At an inquest last week the Sussex force was criticised for way it treated Mr Nicholls, who was unconscious when he was arrested in Brighton in August last year.

As a result of the hearing the sergeant in charge was reprimanded, two constables were fined and another officer was given a verbal warning.

Sussex Police do not want officers to take chances and neither do we David Petch, Police Complaints Authority

Mr Nicholls was arrested when officers discovered he was wanted in connection with five crimes.

Initially an ambulance had been called because he was behaving bizarrely at his daughter's home in Hollingdean but the police were called when he became uncooperative.

Instead of taking him to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, the decision was made to take him to John Street Police Station.

Later, on the way to hospital, the officers stopped to buy food at a petrol station.

Mr Nicholls later died in hospital from a brain haemorrhage.

The inquiry found that the delay did not contribute to Mr Nicholls' death.

Coroner 'indignant'

But An investigation was concluded in November and Sussex Police recommended the officers face a misconduct charge.

The inquiry was supervised by PCA member David Petch, who said: "After the inquest on 8 July, the coroner for Brighton and Hove was indignant about the treatment that Mr Nicholls received.

"I cannot understand why the sergeant wanted to take Mr Nicholls into custody in the first place given his obvious disorientation.

"We have repeatedly urged officers to send seriously ill prisoners directly to hospital.

"Sussex Police do not want officers to take chances and neither do we."